Rotary steel rail base stop clip



May 25, 1943. TE. H. HEALD, JR I2,319,362.

ROTARY STEEL RAIL BASE STOP CLIP Filed Jan. 29, 1941 Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY STEEL nArL BASE sToP CLIP Eugene H. Heald, Jr., Bellevue, Pa. Application January 29, 1941, serial No. 376,545

7 claims. (o1. 233-341) Y This invention relates to rail clips' adapted to engage thel base flange of a rail at its edge and upper portion in order to. prevent sidewise or tilting movement of the rail. It relates more particularly to a rotary clip which may be pivotally or rotatably secured on a metal tie'or other type of rail tie so'rthat'the clip may be rotated in one direction to such position that an eccentric Wedging portion of the clip may be brought into Wedging engagement `with the edge of the base flange of the rail and remain in such locked position' with a minimum likelihood that `such gripping engagement will be loosened.

In certain types of rotary rail clips of the prior art, a rail liange engaging lug has been formed from the clip by punching a lug from that portion of the rail clip lip which engages the upper face of the base flange of the rail. In such a clip, the metal around the lug is torn and the strength of the lug whichengages the edge of the base ange of the rail and also the strength of the lip which engages the upper face of the base flange, is materially weakened by such a punching operation. It has also been found that after repeated usage, the metal in certain portions of the clip becomes deformed due to overstressing of certain parts with the result that lost motion follows so that the clip is no longer effective to securely wedge and anchor the rail in position. In the prior art type of clips having thelug portion stamped or punched downward, there is no portion ofthe clip to prevent any tendency of the lug portion from being distorted upwardly, and there is a limited area of metal which may be effectively utilized` between the outer edge of the lug and the vertical edge of the base flange'of the rail which are brought into wedging or locking engagement as the clip is rotated by such as, for example, a hammer blow on a portion of the clip at the end opposite to that on which the lug is located.

In certain of the clips having the lug punched downwardly, the sectional area of the lug which may be effective to engage the edge of the base flange of the rail amounts to about 40%, leaving 60% of the total cross section effective for supporting the upwardly bent lip which overlies the base flange to prevent any tilting tendency of the rail. In such prior art structures the base of the lip merges into the same plane as the thickness of the body portion of the clip.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rotary clip preferably formed of forged steel which will overcome the above stated objections to the prior art type of clip there referred to, in which the gage lug is punched from a portion of the upwardly bent lip'. In a rotary clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention a much stronger clip may be formed and the full strength of the sectional areas of the metal may be utilized for holding the base flange of the rail in position in contact, first, with the edge portion of the base flange to restrain the rail against sidewise movement and, second, in the lip portion of the clip which engages the upper face of the base flange of the rail. In the improved clip it is possible to utilize as high as 87% ofthe unbroken cross sectional area of the clip as a rail stop engaging the substantially vertical edge portion of the base flange to restrain any tendency for sidewise movement of the rail, theparticular percentage of the cross section of the metal which is actually utilized being dependent upon the particular form and location of the terminations of an intersecting arc-like eccentric. portion which at one end merges into aline, which line is tangent to an arc whose radius extends from, and is normal to, the side of the rail base ange, which radius also passes through the axisof rotation of the clip, and which line at the" other end merges into the otherV side ofthe clip, in a manner hereinafter to be more fully considered.

Further, in the improved type of clip the arrangement is such that the base portion of the upwardly disposed lipis not in substantially the same plane as the body pQrtion of the clip but arises from and is integral with or merges into the top of the body portion of the clip continuously throughout the entire width of the body portion, and also continuously anduninterruptedly throughout the width of the fupwardly eX- tending 'lip portion.

vA further advantage of the arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the clip in this improved construction is that lthe upwardly bent or ldisposed lip overhangs and is immediately above and forms a contiguous shoulder with the wedging portion of the clip therebelow which engages the substantially vertical edge of the base anges of therrail; and thisV relation also exists throughout the entire extent of theV wedging part which engages the edge of the rail. This latter feature is made possible by utilizing the forging method in the formation of the clip so that the base portion of the upwardly disposed lip may be so disposed as to merge into the top face of the body portion of the clip, rather thanbeing formed as a portion bent upwardly from the same plane as the normal thickness of the body portion of the clip, such for example, as when the lip is struck or Ipunched up (or down) from a strip or piece of metal of uniform thickness and the gage lug, on three of its sides, is punched from the upwardly bent lip. In the latter instance, no part of the lip serves as an overlying portion, functioning to reinforce the gage lug, particularly at the outer edge which is in wedging engagement with the rail base flange edge, to prevent distortion thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary clip which may be employed to function as an anti-creep means to restrain the tendency of the rail to creep relative the rail ties in either one or both directions longitudinally of the rail. Y

A further object is to provide an improved rotary clip of such a character that a right hand and/or a left hand clip may .be employedv in combination with a rail and tie, in such a manner as to function as an anti-creep tool or track accessoryto restrain the track from creeping relative the rail tie in either one or both directions longitudinally of the rail.

A further object is to provide a rotary type of rail tie clip which is particularly adapted for use whereportability and quick and accurate assembly andready disassembly without interfering with reuse value, are features of importance such, for example, as for use in mines or for military purposes.

One selected embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing-for purposes of illustration it being understood that various changes in certain Ldetails, sizes, proportions and relation of parts may be made without substantially departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the rail tie and the clips, and shows the rail in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan taken on the line and looking in the direction of arrows II-II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan of one of the rotary clips;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a fragment of the rotary clip showing the wedging portion thereof in section, and showing the relative relation of the different radii for obtaining the locking and wedging action of a substantial area of the end of the clip extending laterally of the clip (to an extent exceeding more than 50% of its end area), which area lies contiguous to the edge of the rail base flange to restrain sidewise movement thereof.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rail designated generally as 1 is shown mounted on two rail ties I, 2, which as shown are of the conventional metal mine type of tie and may be integrally joined by a web W at their base. The two ties are arranged in relatively close relation to each other so that a stationary nonrotatable clip 3 having a vbody portion 4 anda rail flange engaging lip 5 may bridge the two ties I, 2 and .be secured thereto .bysuitable means such as rivets 6, one rivet passing through rivet receiving apertures in the ends of the body portion l4 of the clip and4 being secured in the ties I, 2 respectively. The lip -5 engages the upper face of one of the rail Ibase flanges 8 and serves to restrain any tendency of the rail to move sidewise or to tilt.

The rotary type of dip with which this invention is particularly concerned is shown as engaging the rail base flange 9.v As shown, two rotary clips are employed, one designated generally as I0, which might be referred to as a right hand clip and shown mounted on the rail tie I by a rivet 68, and the other a left hand clip II shown mounted on a rail tie 2 =by a rivet 6b. The rotary clips are arbitrarily designated as being the right or left hand type because in looking toward the rail from the left hand side thereof, the rail engaging portion of the clip I Il is rotated toward the right in order to be brought into locking or wedging engagement with the rail base flange and the corresponding portion of the clip II is moved toward the left in order to be brought into similar locking or wedging position with the rail base ange. In order to facilitate the rotation of the clip so as to be brought to an unlocked position relative the rail, a raised shoulder portion Ila is formed at one corner and extending along one side of the clip I, and a similar raised shoulder Ilb is formed at one corner and extending along'one side of the clip II. Either rotary clip I0, II may be released from a tight wedging or locking relation with the rail flange by a .blow delivered to the raised shoulders Ila, Ilb of the respective clips. A blow in the opposite direction, of course, would be utilized to readily rotate the respective clips to locking engagement with the base flange -9 of the rail 1. Such an arrangement enables the rails to be rapidly secured in position upon rail ties vand also enables the rail and tie to be quickly disassembled in order to afford a degree of portability such, for example, as in mine use, and also for military purposes.

In order to avoid any possible interference upon rotation of the clip with adjacent ties, clips thereon, or adjacent clips on the same tie, the corner of the clip is rounded as indicated at I8 so that the clip may be rotated 90 to a nonfunctioning position without the rounded corner extending beyond the side of the tie or interfering with adjacent clips. Y

As compared with rotary clips of the prior art, the present type of clip is particularly adapted for reuse with the chances being reduced to a minimum of developing lost motion through distortion and loose connections upon repeated use and rotation of the clip. The particular features contributing to this end will be hereinafter more fully considered.

As shown in Figures 3 through 6, a left hand clip is shown and will be hereinafter referred to intmaking more specific reference to particular features of the rotary clip, it being understood that a right hand clip would be substantially similar thereto and have corresponding features, the left hand clip being referred to specifically merely for the purposes of illustration.

As shown, the clip includes a main body portion IIad having at one end thereof a rail base flange engaging end portion I 3 shown as substantially vertical and extending throughout the entire thickness and entire width of the body portion IISL of the clip. In a rotary clip this is a feature of importance which characterizes the present clip over certain commercial rotary clips of the prior art. Such a rail base flange engaging portion I3 extends laterally of the clip to a point beyond the center line thereof, which center line passes through the rivet receiving aperture 6c which constitutes the axis about which the clip rotates. In the design and functioning of a rotary rail clip, the extent and area of the portion of the clip, such as the portion I3 which normally engages the substantially vertical edge of the rail base flange, are of considerable importance in as much as such an extent and area of metal of the clip are the portions thereof which are' directly effective to prevent any tendency of the rail to move sidewise. Further, in a clip of the rotary type where a powerful wedg'ing and locking relation is brought into play on rotation to or from holding position, it is highly desirable that `as large lan area as possible of the metal of the clip in the same plane as the main body I Ia of the clip should be brought into rubbing engagement with the edge of the rail base fiange in order to minimize the possibilities of mutilating or deforming the functioning areas of the clip or of the edge of the base flange of the rail which are brought into compression by wiping or sliding frictional wedging engagement. The larger the areas exposed to the effective forces, the smaller will be the forces per unit area and the likelihood of mutilation or distortion will be minimized.

The distance which the rail engaging edge I3 of the clip extends laterally beyond the longitudinal center line of the clip is shown and represented in Figure 6 by the distance X. One end of the normal rail engaging portion of the end I3 is designated as I3a, and also is one limit of the portion X which is a line tangent to an arc whose radius is normal to said tangent, and passes through the axis of clip rotation. As shown, the end of the clip in the plane of the thickness of the main body IIa of the clip continues in a curved arcuate-like line from the point I3a which is at the end of aline tangent to an arc at the end of radius R, said arc being formed by rotation of said radial line R about the axis of rotation 24 ofthe clip and said' radial line being coincident I R2 -is intermediate the ends of the radius R, one r'v end of which is located on the axis of rotation of the clip and the other end of which extends to the end of the clip on the line which engages the edge of the rail base flange and which is tangent to' the radius R at-point 23 at the end' thereof, as f1",

shown in Figure 3. The axis 24 about which the clip rotates and the radial line R passing therethrough, are coincident and are disposed.- `centrally ofthe rotatable clip on'the center linethereof. The central disposition of the axis' of rotation of the clip is a departure from certainforms of prior art rotatable clips in which thev axis of rotation of such prior art clips is laterally offset from the longitudinal center line thereof and' is located Vnear one of the sides of the clip. However, such an off-center location of the axis about which the prior art clip rotates is open to the objection that a side thrust is imparted to a portion of the clip from the rail base flange which tends to open the clip by the tangential extension X which merges gradually into the oppositeside I4 of the clip by a curved line I2', theexact character of which may be modified in relation to the arc 2l determined by the axis of rotation of the clip to suit various conditions of use and properties of materialsA used.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and G, the point Ma at which the curved line I2 merges in the side I4 of the clip is at a'point within the area of a circle dened by the arc 2I (see Figure 3), which arc would form a portion of va circle described by the radius R extending from the axis of rotation of the clip ori the center line thereof and normal to the end of the clip I3 which engages the edge of the rail base ange 9 to restrain any tendency of sidewise movement thereof. The point of mergence I4EL of the curved line I2 with the clip side I4 is, of course, eccentric to the axis of rotation o'f the clip and, as above indicated, is within an area deinedv by the arc 2I so that as the clip is rotated the portion of the edge included between the point 22 (which is the point of intersection of the arc I2 and the arc 2|), and the point I4a, would be entirely free and clear and would be spaced from the edge of the rail base clip and release the wedging orlocking relation flange 9.` That portion of the end of the clip between the point 23 which lies on the longitudinal center line of the clip, and the point 22 comprises an eccentric portion outside of the arc 2I (formed by rotation of either of the radius lines R or R1 about the point 24 as the axis of rotation of the clip). Such eccentric portion is made up of, rst, a straight tangent portion normal to the center line of the clip such as the portion extending from the point 23 to the point |13a and, second, a portion of'the arc I2 extending from the point I32L to the point 22 which latter point, as stated above, is the point atwhich the larc I2 and arc `ZI intersect.4 TheV degree or extent of the metal forming the `wedging action tending to resist rotation of thefclipv from its'lock'edpostion is indicated by the distanceZU (see Figure 6) which is the .distance between the end of the radius R when it is in a position which coincides with the center line of the clip and the end of the radius R2 indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6 as a projection of the arcv I2 when said' radius also coincides with the center line of V'the clip. `By varying the location ofthe point 25` (as the center about which the radius R2 is rotated to describe the arc I2 forming a portion of the end 'of the clip) either to the right 'ori left upon the center line or above orbelow said center line or by varying the distance X,

i. the eccentric locking portion may be varied within fairly wide limits so that, if desired, as much as 'ZO to 80% of the end area of the clip' normally may be in engagement with the rail base 'flange to restrain any tendency for' sidewise movement of 1 fueran.

However, within the limits of such modications as may be made, the common feature still remains, in the character of the end of the clip which` distinguishes from the prior art' in providing a reinforcing and strengthening portion of gradual mergence with the opposite side of the clip, which feature tends to minimize undue concentration of forces and load as the clip is being rotated either to or from its functioning position with the rail. `It is not essential that the portion of the clip between the points I3a to I4f L should be on a true arc, as such portions may be formed merely as a curved line without any denite axis or center. The essential feature is', however, that an eccentric wedging portion outside thev arc 2| be provided corresponding to that portion of the clip end extending between the points 23 to 22.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the rotatable clip is provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending lip I9 which engages the upper face of the rail base flange 9 and serves to restrain any tendency of the rail to tip or tilt and to a certain extent to prevent sidewise movement. The base portion of such lip I9 at the point indicated at.I5 in Figure 4 throughout the thickness of the lip and also throughout the width thereof and also the Width of the clip, merges into and arises from the upper face of `the body portion I I2b of the clip as a continuous uninterrupted integral structure.

This feature is in contrast to the particular lip formation of certain prior art rotatable clips, in which the lip is merely bent upwardly at an angle from the main body portion of the clip so that the base portion of the prior art lips merge into the same plane as the-thickness of the body portion and do not merge into and arise from the upper face as in the clip which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention. This difference in detail construction is facilitated by formation of the clip by a forging method and enables a substantially vertical edge portion I3 to be formed which extends continuously and uninterruptedly throughout more than 50% of the exposed end area of the clip and such area is available for direct contact with the edge of the rail base flange to restrain tendency for sidewise movement of the rail.

A further feature of advantage in having the base portion of the lip merging into and from the upper face of the body portion of the clip is that the lip I9 throughout the widthlof said lip and also throughout the width of the clip, serves as a reinforcing or strengthening shoulder directly overlying the substantially vertical rail engaging end I3 throughout the entire extent thereof, including the normal holding position, and also the wedging portion, which is effective and which is subjected to intense compressive forces during periods in which the clip is moved to and from its normal holding and locking position with respect to the rail. VThis latter is a feature not found in prior art rotatable clips in which the clip is punched upwardly from the gage 1ug.

In the prior art type of rotary clip in which the gage lug is punched from the overlying lip, upon rotation of the clip either into or out of its functioning holding relation with the edge of the rail flange, the magnified wedging forces (compressive 'and abrasive in character) are concentrated upon either one or the other of the corners or horns of the lug, and tend to distort or deform permanently such corners. This causes a looseness or lost motion which renders such a punched-out type gage lug objectionable for. reuse on subsequent occasions. In such punched-out types of lugs there is no substantial body of metal immediately adjacent the portion ofthe lug which is subjected to the most intense compressive and abrasive forces during the period of wedging action to and from its normal functional holding position.

In contrast to such prior art structure, the rotary clip constituting the subject matter of the present application is so arranged and proportioned in its various partsimmediately adjacent the ends and edges which are subjected to the intensified compressive fand abrasive forces during wedging action upon rotation of the clip, that a body or mass of metal is provided through which the forces may be spread or dissipated, with the result that a larger mass of metal is immediately effective to strengthen the active wedging face of the end of the clip Which is in rubbing and intensified wedging contact with the edge of the rail flange. That particular reinforcing metal mass is provided by the gradually rounded contour of the end I3 provided by the curved portion above described in some detail and included Within the curved contour I2 which merges at |48' into the clip side I4, and also the portion designated as X, and particularly one extremity I3a thereof which merges with the other end of the curved contour I2. The point I3a is disposed in a position most distantly located from the axis of rotation 24 of the clip body Ile, which portion is brought into contact with the edge of the rail flange and subjected to wedging action therewith. That portion of the lip I9 which merges into the top face of the clip body I Ia and overlies the point I3a is in contiguous relation immediately above such point, and serves as a direct reinforcing and strengthening feature to prevent any possible deflection or deformation, permanently or otherwise, of the point I38L or any adjacent portions of the wedging face of the end I3 of the clip which may be subjected to intensified forces upon rotation of the clip.

In the prior art punched-out lug there was no such reinforcing action of the lip such as above set forth in the present structure, but on the contrary, under certain conditions, it was possible to effect a deflection or permanent deformation of the corner or outer edge or corner of the lug in wiping or wedging engagement with the edge of the rail flange through a leverage action in which the pivotal movement would be carried back to the point at which the base of the punched-out lug merged with the body portion of the clip at one end thereof and in the same plane as the thickness thereof.

In certain types of the rotatable clips of the prior art employing the punched-out type of gage lug, such lug was centrally and symmetrically disposed so that the clip could be rotated in either direction. In such a type of lug, even though used in combination with the two rail ties and a permanently positioned bridging clip, las shown in Figure 2, on the opposite side of the rail, a tendency of the rail to creep in either direction on the rail ties beyond a certain point, which point would be that of maximum wedging action between the rail flange and the punched-out gage lug of the clip, would cause the two rotatable rail clips'to be loosened. In the general assembled combination, as shown in Figure 2, in which a right and left hand clip are employed on the respective types, the combination is such that a novel and unique anti-creeping function is performed by either the right hand or the left hand clip, depending upon which direction the rail flange tends to creep upon the rail ties. For example, this may be illustrated by referring to Figure 2, assuming the observer to be looking to the left in Figure 2. If there is a tendency for the rail to creep on the rail ties toward the right, the forces brought into play would be such that the left hand rotary clip I I would tend to resist creeping of the rail in such direction because of the extended area and lineal distance contacted between the end I3 of the clip and the same area of contact with the edge of the rail flange. Any tendency for the rail to creep would be resisted by the increased toggle or wedging action which would be effective to resist turning or rotation of Y rivet 6b.

the clip body l I about its axis of rotation voncthe Fora like reason, any tendencyfof .the rail to creep in the opposite direction would be opposed by the right hand clip I0. Of course a right and left hand clip would be used in practice ordinarily on rails on which there was travel of the load in opposite directions such, for example, as would be likely in mine service or inportable track equipment for military service. If the car travel were in one direction only, the anti-creep function of the clips on a pair of ties would be more effective by employing either two right hand clips or twoleft hand clips, dependent upon the direction of travel and the tendency of the rail to creep upon the ties. ,a

While in one respect an unsymmetrical rotatable clip hasr been employed in the prior art, it hasusually been the case that in the commercial forms employed, the axis of rotation of the :clip has also been unsymmetrical in that it has been disposed off of the center line of the clip and adjacent one side. Such an arrangement is open to the objections hereinbefore referred to. Howevery in the clip constituting the subject matter of the present application, While the holding and wedging edges may be said to be unsymmetrical as compared to the punched-out lug typeof rotatable clip of the prior art,1yet the center line of the clip passes through the center line .of the rivet as the axis of rotation of the clip. l

While one preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is understood that various changes and modiiications of detail and of the relation of parts may be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A forged rotaryclip adapted to be pivotally fixed on a rail tie and to be swung thereon, for locking engagement with the rail base iiange, said rotary clip including a body' portion adapted to lie on the rail tie, pivotal means of rotation for said clip disposed centrally of the body portion, said body portion having an end portion adapted to engage the side edge of the rail base flange to restrain thecrail against sidewise movement, the

vend portion of the clip in engagement with the rail extending from one side of the clip bodyas a straight lineralong a line tangent to an arc Awhose radius extends to the axisof rotation of said clip said tangent line extending to a point beyond said arc and continuing in Ian arc whose center is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the clip and merging into the other side of said clip body, the end of said eccentric arc terminating within an area circumscribed by the arc whose radius extends to the axis of rotation, whereby an eccentric wedging and locking portion is formed in the same plane as the body portion of the clip to impose sufficient restraint to prevent accidental rotation or misplacement of said clip but not to impose sufficient restraint to prevent rotation of the clip upon application of sudden force or hammer blow at opposite end of -clip to apply or remove the clip from holding position with the rail, and an angularly disposed lip adapted to overlie and engage the base flange of the rail extending outwardly and upwardly from the top face of the body portion above and overhanging the end of the clip, the entire base portion of the lip joining with and extending from the upper face of the body portion of the clip as a continuous uninterrupted connection throughout the width of the body portion of the clip.

2. A rotary clip adapted to be made as a forging and adapted to be pivotally fixed on a rail tie and to be. swung thereon, 'for locking engagement with the rail base flange, said rotary clip including a body portion adapted to lie Aon the rail tie, pivotal means of rotation for said 'clip having itsaxis rdisposed centrally of the clipV body portion,rsaid body portion having an end portion adapted to engage the side edge of the rail base flange to restrain the rail against sidewise movement, the end portion of the clip in engagement with the rail extending from one side of the clip as a straight line along ja line tangent to an arc having a radius normal to the side edge of the railgand extending to the axis of rotation of said clip, and said tangent liney extending to apoint beyond said arc and continuing on an arcflike line by an arc whose center `is eccentric to the axis about which said clip turns and being of a smaller radius than the radius of rotation of said clip, oneiend ofsaid arc, having the eccentric center, terminating in the edge, of the clip within the area within an arc circumscribed by the arc whose radialV line is normal'to the rail engagingend'of the clip, and extends to the axis of rotation thereof whereby an eccentric wedgingk and locking portion is formed in the same horizontal plane as the -body portion of the clip, andan angularly `disposed lip adapted to overlie and engage the base iange of the rail, `the entire base portion of the lip j'oining with andextending from the upper face of the body portion of the clip, said lip overlying rand extending above said rail flange engaging edge of the clip body continuously kthroughout the entire extentof` said edge 'and entire width of the clip body.

3. A rotary clip adapted to be pivotally xed on a rail tie and to be swung thereon, for locking engagement with the'rail base flange, Said rotary clip including la body portion adapted to lie on the rail tie, pivotal means for the clip having its axis of. rot'ationldisposed centrally of the clip body portion, said body portion havinga substantially vertical end portion adapted to engage the side edge of therail base flange to restrain the rail against sidewisemovement, saidiend portion being disposed wholly within the `two parallel sides oi the main body portion of the clip and having no offset portion out of alignment with the said parallel sides, theend portion'of the clip in engagement with the rail extending from one side of the clip `as a straight line along a line tangent to an arc described by a radial line extending from the side edge of the rail to and passing through the axis of rotation of said clip, said end portion of the clip continuing as a straight line to a point beyond said arc, and then continuing on an arc of less radius than the radius of the arc of rotation of the clip, and whose center is eccentric to the axis about which said clip turns, the end of said arc of less radius than the radius of the arc of rotation of the clip terminating in the edge of the clip in the other side of the clip body portion at a point within an area circumscribed by an arc Whose radius is normal to the rail engaging end of the clip and extends to the axis of rotation thereof whereby an eccentric wedging and locking portion is formed in the same plane as the body of the clip to impose suicient restraint to prevent 'accidental rotation or misplacement of said clip but not to impose sufficient restraint to prevent rotation of the clip upon application of sudden force or hammer blow at opposite end of clip, and an angularly disposed lip adapted to overlie and engage the base flange of the rail extending outwardly and upwardly from the body portion, the

entire base portion of the lip joining withand extending from the upper face of and within the sides of the main body portion of the clip withoutl any oiset portion and forming a continuous `strengthening connecting portion with the body of substantially uniform area continuously and uninterruptedly throughout the extent; of the angularly disposed lip which overlies the rail fiange, throughout the width of, and in alignment with, the sides of the main body portion of clip, said lip overlying and extending above said rail ange engaging edge of the clip body continuously throughout the entire extent of said edge.

4. A rotary clip adapted to be pivotally xed on a rail -tie and to be swung thereon, for looking engagement with the rail base flange, the point of pivotal .support being disposed centrally of the body portion of the clip, said rotary clip including a body portion adapted to lie on the rail tie, said body portion having an end portion adapted to `engage the side edge of the railbase flange to restrain the rail against sidewise movement, the end portion of the clip in engagement with the rail extending from one side of the clip as a straight line along a line tangent to an arc Whose radius extends through the axis of rotation of said clip said tangent line extending to a point beyond said 'arc and continuing as a curved linemerging into the other side of said clip which curved line is formed about a radius, the axis of rotation of which is eccentric to the axis about which said clip turns, the end of said curved line terminating in the edge of the clip within an area circumscribed by said arc whose radial line is normal to the rail engaging end of the clip and extends to the axis of rotation thereof whereby an eccentric wedging and locking portion is formed in the same plane as the .body of the clip, and an angularly disposed lip adapted to overlie and engage the base flange of the rail extending outwardlyand upwardly from the top face'of the body portion, said lip overlying and extending above said rail flange engaging edge of the clip body continuously throughout the entire extent of said edge,

5. The combination of a rail having a base fl'angeon each side thereof, a plurality of rail ties disposed in adjacent relation, a xed bridging rail clip extending between the two ties and having its ends secured to each tie, means on said xed clip engaging the rail ange on one side of the rail, a rotatable clip pivotally secured on the center line of the clip to one of said ties, a rail flange engaging edge on said clip at one end thereof, said edge extending unequal distances on opposite sides of the clip center line in a straight line normal to the center line, one straight line portion on one side of the center line continuing to one side of the rotatable clip and functioning as an anti-rail'creep wedging portion to restrain tendency of said rail to creep on said tie in one direction longitudinally of the rail and rendering it impossible to rotate said clip in the direction of creeping tendency longitudinally of the rail, the straight line portion on the other side of the center line gradually merging by a curved line into the other side of the clip and presenting an eccentric wedging portion in the same plane as. the body of the clip locking said clip in holding functioning relation with the rail iange edge but permitting rotation of the clip to overcome the resistance of the wedging portion upon the application of a hammer blow to the clip in a direction to rotate the same, all portions of said clip being within the two parallel sides of the main clip body portion adjacent the point of pivotal support thereof, whereby 'any offset portions extending beyond the sides of the clip body portion, are avoided.

6. The combination as dened in claim 5 and including a second rotatable clip pivotally secured to the second rail tie, said second clip being similar to said first clip excepting that the rail ange edge engaging portions are transposed to positions on opposite sides of. the center line whereby said second clip resistsrail creeping tendency in the opposite direction to that of the first and whereby the two ties, the fxedbridging clip andthe two rotatable clips comprise an assembled rail supporting unit to `resist rail creeping tendency in either direction.

7 The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the rail ties are of the conventional metal mine type of tie integrally joined by a web so as to present two'raised bearing surfaces separated by a groove, substantially as shown and described.

. EUGENE H. HEALD, JR." 

